This shareable PDF can be hosted on any platform or network and is fully compliant with publisher copyright.

Efficient utilization of photogenerated electrons and holes for photocatalytic selective organic syntheses in one reaction system using a narrow band gap CdS photocatalyst

Xiaofeng Ning, Sugang Meng, Xianliang Fu, Xiangju Ye, Shifu Chen

Green Chemistry, January 2016, Royal Society of Chemistry

DOI: 10.1039/c6gc00572a

A new strategy of utilization of photogenerated electrons-holes for photoredox catalysis

What is it about?

In one reaction system, the photogenerated electrons and holes were directly used for selective reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline and selective oxidation of aromatic alcohol to aromatic aldehyde under green mild reaction conditions through visible light irradiation. The mechanism had been studied in detail. The results demonstrated that this photocatalytic selective oxidation and reduction reaction is a synergistic reaction via producing and consuming protons. Thus the stoichiometric products could be obtained, and the photogenerated carriers could be utilized completely.

Why is it important?

A green and sustainable reaction system was brought up and established, in which the selective oxidation process consumed photogenerated holes and produced protons, the selective reduction process digested electrons and protons. In traditional oxidation and reduction catalysis, the electrons and holes were used to be wasted by sacrificial agents, respectively, then undesirably increases the system cost and brings along some oxidation products such as CO2.

Perspectives

Sugang Meng (Author)

Huaibei Normal University

This work highlights the promising scope for selective organic synthesis in one reaction system under mild conditions using photogenerated electrons and holes directly and simultaneously. Nevertheless, this idea could also be expanded the research field of photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis.